Method for making soap-oil compositions



May 31,1932.

Filed July 14, 1926 .NWBEWOWWIJ WW PHIHHHHHHUPWM Y o \JN l l W NE m; W

Patented May 31, 1932 TUNI'TED S A PATENT orrlca FRANK W. ABRAMS, F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD. OIL DEVEL OPMENT ooMPA'NY, A coaroaarron or DELAWARE METHOD FOR MAKING SOAP-OIL CdMPDS-IT'IONS Application filed. July 14,

This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of hydrocarbon oil compositions containing soap. In accordance with the invention, a soap is associated with the oil under such conditions that-a fluid product is formed in which the soap appears to exist as a colloid. The method will be fully understood from the following description, taken 'in' connection with the accompanying drawing, in which the figure is a diagrammatic side elevation partly in section, showing one suitable form of apparatus.

As illustrative of the invention, the manufacture of a soap-containing lubricating oil 5 will be described. Mineral oil of about 75 seconds Saybolt viscosity at 212 F. is supplied from tank 1 through pipe 2, pump 3 and pipe 4 to the agitator 5. Valves 6, 7, and 8 are open and valves 9, 10, 11 and 26 are closed While the agitator is being charged. When this is completed the oil is drawn by pump 3 through pipe 12 connected to the bottom of the agitator and through pipe 13 to a heater 14, preferably a continuous coil heated by flue gases. From the heater l4 the.oil passes through pipe 15 and is discharged below the surface of the oil in agitator 5.

A draft tube 16 is arranged in the central portion of the agitator, and a'stirrer 17 of the propeller type operates in the lower portion ofv the draft tube. minates just. below the surface ofthe liquid whereby violent surface agitation is obtained upon actuation of the stirrer. During the earlier stages of the operation the stirrer should be rotated so as to cause an upward flow of oil through the draft tube. tated in a reverse direction, air is drawn in and may discolor the oil.

When the'temperature of the 'oil in the agitator has reached about 120'F., the calculated amount of oleic acid (elaine or red oil) is drawn from a tank 18 through pipe 19 and is fed into the agitator 5, wherein it is thoroughly mixed with the oil. 7 When the mixture of oil and oleic acid has reached a temperature of about 180 F., the calculated amount of a 25% aqueous solution of sodium.

hydroxid, required to substantially neutralize the oleic acid, is drawn from tank 20 by The draft tube ter If ro- 1926. Serial No. 122,348.

pipe 21 to the agitator 5. The soap formed A V forexample, constitute about 0.17% by Weight of the comby the neutralization may,

position and will in most cases be less than 0.5%. The agitation, circulation and heating', as described, are continued throughout the operations referred to.

When atemperatureof about 220? F. is reached, steam is injected over the surface of the oil in the agitator through steam inlet 22, in order to exclude air. A ventilator 23 is provided at the top of the agitator and serves to allow the escape of excess steam, either injected or formed from water that may be present in the oil.

At temperatures around 212 F. foam ordinarily begins to form. The direction of rotation of the stirrer is now reversed so as to destroy the foam by drawing it under the surface of the oil. Since the temperature of the agitator is now high enough to permit the maintenance of an atmosphere of steam, no substantial amount of air is drawn into the oil.

The amount of heat supplied in heater 14 i should be so regulated that the oil in the agitator is brought gradually up to a tem-' perature not generally exceeding 10 F below the flash point of the oil in from 10 to 15 hours. At the end of this period it Will be;

found that the reaction between the oleic acid and sodium hydroxid is completed and that substantially all water has been removed from the composition. The circulation and agitation are continued for a short time to. insure thorough mixing and to expel the last traces, of water.

The hot contents of the agitator isthen pumped through pipe 12 to cooler 24. The

compositionremaining in the heater 14 and the pipe lines is alsopumped to the-cooler, a by-pass 25 being provided for this purpose.

'During the pumping out of the agitator,

valves 26, 7, and 11 are open and valves 6, 8, 9, and 10 areclosed. The valves 9, and 9' in the by-fpass 25, as well as valves 7 and 11 in the main lines, are opened when the heater and pipe lines are to be' pumped out. Duringthis operation valves 6, 8, -10 and 26 are closed. The cooled product is drawn off through pipe 27 to a storage tank 28.

It is important that'the composition be cooled rapidly, as otherwise gel formation is likely to occur. Ra id cooling, coupled with considerable agitation, such as may be effected in a long pipe coil with numerous bends, is desirable. Vigorous agitation without positive cooling will also serve in many cases to prevent the formation of a gel. However, rapid cooling is desirable through the temperature range (in the process escribed about 400-150? F.) in which the gel is likely to appear. If the gel does not form within this temperature range, the composition will be stable; that is, it will show no separation of soap even after long standing, but will remain a clear, apparently homogeneous liquid. The invention is particularly adapted for the preparation of oils containing soap in amount which will not increase greatly the viscosity of the oil; the soap being present in amount and physical condition adapted to improve the film-maintaining property of the oil; While it is desirable to form a soap in the body of oil, it may be added in other ways, for example, preformed, as a solid or in water or alcohol solution.

The invention is not limited to the use of the special materials, proportions, and operating conditions described. Various changes and-alternative arrangements maybe made Within the scope of the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.

I1 claim:

1. Method of manufacturing a hydrocarbon oil composition containing soap, comprising circulating the oil through a cycle including an agitating .zone and a heating zone, distributing a soap in the oil, and rapidly coolingthe composition throughthe temperature range in which gel formation would otherwise take place.

2. The method of manufacturing a hydrocarbon oil composition containing soap, which comprises maintainin a body of hydrocarbon oil, continuously a stracting a part thereof, passing said part throu h a heating zone andreturning. same to sai' body, distribut ing a soap in said oil and rapidly cooling the oil and distributed soap through the temperature range in which gel formation would otherwise take place.

'3. "The method of manufacturing a hydrocarbon oil composition containing soap, which comprises maintaining a body of lubricating oil, heating the oil, incorporating a soap therein and stirring said body of oil containing soap upwardly, continuing the heating of said bodyuntil the tem erature of the same is in excess of 212 F orming a blanket of steam over the surface of said body when the temperature is in excess of 212 F., and after the formation of said blanket stlrrmg the liquid downwardly sufiicientlyrapidly to I draw surface matter mto the liquid.

4. The method of manufacturing a hydrocarbon oil composition containing soap, which comprises incorporating the soap in the oil,

heating the mixture to a temperature approximating the condensing point of steam, disposing the heated mixture in a body the upper surface of which is exposed to the air,

agitating the mixture, heating the mixture I the body, and stirring the mixture by drawing the liquid downwardly from the surface in a tubular zone of the body with violent surface agitation. I

. FRANK W. ABRAMS.

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